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Netflix Is Paying Chris Rock an Insane Amount of Cash for Two Stand-Up Specials

The comic's first special since 2008 will tape next year

liam-mathews
Liam Mathews

It's been so long since Chris Rock put out a stand-up special that you may think he's forgotten how to do it. He used to be the greatest comedian alive, but since his last special, 2008's Kill the Messenger, he's been eclipsed by his friend Louis C.K. as he stepped back from stand-up to focus on acting, directing and producing. He still does stand-up occasionally, but not at the game-changing level of his breakthrough special Bring the Pain. After all this time away from stand-up, can he still deliver the laughs like he used to?

We'll find out next year, when Rock returns for the first of two stand-up specials for Netflix.

The streaming service announced Thursday that Rock will do two specials for Netflix, which has established itself as the premier destination for stand-up comedy. The first show will tape in 2017 after Rock does a world tour with the material -- the tour is being planned now.

Chris Rock, The 88th Annual Academy Awards

Chris Rock, The 88th Annual Academy Awards

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix will pay $40 million for the two specials, making this the most lucrative for a stand-up special ever. Rock going to Netflix is a blow to HBO, since Rock and the network have a long relationship -- his first special, Big Ass Jokes, aired on the network in 1994, followed by his legendary specials Bring the Pain and Bigger & Blacker. He also had an eponymous talk show on HBO from 1997 to 2000.

More recently, Rock directed Amy Schumer's special Live at the Apollo for the network. He also hosted the 88th Academy Awards in February, which was his first time hosting the show since 2005.